Double-reduction drive for motor vehicles



July 3,1923. 1,460,532`

H. D. CLARKE DOUBLE REDUCTION DRIVE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 'Filed March 14. 1919 s Smets-sheet 1 n lh 1 N1 1 f I l` I I L l l D QN l n July 3, 1923. 1,460,532

' n .-H. D. CLARKE DOUBLE REDUCTION DRIVE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 14 .Y 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r n l5 O f6 O July 3, 19.23.

H. D. CLARKE .DOUBLE REDUCTION DRIVE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed MarCh 14, 1'919 '0" Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 3, 1923.

ineassz HARRYD. CLARKE, ORrLATTsMOUTH, NEBRASKA, AssreNORTO THE OHIO TRACTOR COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION orl OHIO. v

`DOUBLE-REDUCTION' DRIVE FOB, MOTOR VEHICLES. y

v.Application filed March 14, 1919. Serial No. 282,655.

T 0 'all whom 'it may concern/.7'

Be it known that I, HARRY D. CLARKE, a Citizen of the United States, residing at APlattsmouth, -ink the county of Cass and State lof Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double- Reduction Drives forMotor Vehicles; and I' do hereb-y declarer the following to be afull, clear, and exact description` of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. l

This invention relatestonew and useful improvements in motor vehicle drivesvof the worm type and vhas forone of its objects the provision of means "for so mounting the worm inrelation to the wormgear and the Amain axle'V and the employment ofcouple gearsbetween the worm lgear and the driving wheels ofthe vehicle, `that a double reduction is obtainable with one set'of gearing, Aand also permits of various reductions to be Amade by thefemployment of Vcouple gears of different ratios, and further gives a greater clearancebetween the ground vand the' housing-:of the mainy aXle, and further permits the worm to be continuously bathed v'in lubricant carried in the housing.

' V'Another object vof thisinvention is'the provision of means rwhich underslings the worm both to the-'differential and its drive axles and in horizontal alinement with the load carrying axles, which disposes the bowl of the dil'erential housing uppermost l,and permits of the power assemblyto be placed in a comparatively low plane ony the vvehicle which gives a low center of gravity to the vehicle lthereby 'reducing the liability of the vehicle overturning and also gives a greater clearance between the ground and the dif# ferenti al housing and further permits power to be delivered in horizontal alinement to the load carrying axles from the "power assembly without the employment 'of universal joints. Y

' A further4 object of thisinventi'on is the provision of a mounting which forms 'af part ofthe cover plate and supports the differentialv and worm drive shaft at the Vrear of said coverplate, which will assume what forces that may 4have a'tendency to move the cover plate in relation to the housing, thereby permitting the cover plate to maintain its tight engagement with the housing, thusrelieving allst'iain on the 4fastening' elements that secure the cover plate to the housing. c

A still further object of this invention is the vprovision of a `double Vreduction drive for motor vehicles of the above stated character, which yshall be simple, durable and efficient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.'

l/Vith these" and other objects in view as I lowing description andaccompanying drawings, in which p i Figure l ,is ai vertical sectional'view of a double reduction drive for motor yvehicles constructed in accordance with my invention, l j i f liguref?l isan end view'partly in section 'illustrating the location of the worm in respe'ct to the worm gear and the main load carrying axle,

' Figure 3 isa detail side elevation of .the hanger or mounting, l Figure t is a rear elevation of the same, Figure 5.is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure l.'

so' i yReferring in detail to the` drawings, the v .6 is.A secured tothe housingl by bolts or" like fastenersy "1'.A Cast or formed integrally with the' plate ,6 are spaced hangers Shav-A ing bearingsI 9 that rotatably support'th'f inner ends of drive axles 10. y,Thehangers 8 are seated withinthe housing as shown-'at 8. Located between thebearings 9isthe ordinaryA tdifferential casingl l1 havinggthe differential therein (not shown) -andlwhich is connected to the axle 10Y and isconneoted to a vertically disposed worm gear 12. A bearing 13 is formed in the hangers 8 and receives the rear end of a worm shaft 14 that has its forward end journaled in a bearing 15. The worm shaft is disposed in a plane below and parallel with the worm gear 12 and has formed thereon a worm 16 which meshes with the worm gear 12 and is disposed in a horizontal plane with the main or load carrying axles 3 so that the power source (not shown) connected to the front end of the 'shaft 14 will deliver its power at a point in a horizontal plane with the axles 3, thereby giving a lower center of gravity to the device which aids in maintaining the vehicle in an upright position on the ground and also gives a greater clearance between the ground and the housing 1. The forward end of the worm shaft 14 extends through an enlarged portion 17 of the cover 16 for connection with the ordinary power source (not shown) and which enlarged portion forms a housing for the bearing 15. rThe enlarged portion 17 is closed by a leak-proof adjusting collar 18 that retains the bearing 15 in place and prevents grease or lubricant from escaping. The cover 6 is bulged so as to accommodate the worm gear 12 and is machine made along with the hangers 8 and bearings 9 so that when secured to thehousing 1 by the bolts 7 a leak-proof connection is established and permits the differential, hanger and worm shaft to all be simultaneously removed through the front of the housing 1 whenk re.- moving the cover plate and after detaching or removing the axles 10.

As the worm wheel forming a partA of the differential and the worm. are located at the rear side of the cover plate, and as these parts are journaledY in bearings carried by the cover plate, no forces. which would tend to disconnect the cover plate from theI housing, are exerted upon the cover plate by the worm wheel and worm shaft under any and all load and traction conditions.

The ends of the housing 1 have secured thereto plates 18 or if desired they may be cast thereto. Annular flanges 19 are formed on the plates 18 and are overlaid by the annular flanges 2O formed on the hubs 21 of the wheels 4 and. which, flanges have inter- .Oscd between the same packing 22 to estabish leakfproof connections. Ringgears 23 arei secured to the hubs 21 of the wheels 4 within the. flanges2l. and are inmesh. with couple gears24 securedto the outer ends of the drive axles 10 that project through the plates 18 andv which4 have their. outer ends supported by bearings 25 formed o-n the platesl 18. The axles 10A with their couple gears 2 4 are disposed in. vertical alinement with the main or load carryinfgaxles .l By having.l the flanges 20, overlying the flanges 19 and the packing 22 disposed between the same form leak-proof casings to the ring and couple gears which may be filled or partially filled with lubricant so that all parts will be thoroughly lubricated.

The drive axles 10 which are journaled in the ends of the housing and also in the plates ,18 keep the gears 24 in true alinement with the ring gears, thereby prevent. ing uneven gearing of t-he teeth of the gears. The plates 18 also cooperate with the ends of the housing informing cups or pockets that partially enclose the gears 24 and bearings of said drive axles and are adapted to catch lubricant as it is. brought up by the ring gears, so tha-t said bearings and gears 24 will be thoroughly lubricated.

The gears 24 being continuously bathed' in lubricant will also furnish lubricant. to the teeth of the ring gears where said gears 24 mesh therewith. Therefore, it is to be. noted that there is more constant lubrication. to the ring gears and gears 24 than.v that provided by any other internall gear drive.

Any form of wheel be employed. and in this instance I have elected the. traction type having the spokes divergin-g fromfthe rim and having. their ends secured to the flange 20 and reduced portion of the hub.

In operation, the power from thepower" source (not. shown) is delivered at dead center of the main or Yload carrying axle through the medium of the worm and worm gear, so that alowcenter' ofY gravity is attained and through the worm'- 'and worm gear one reduction is obtained tothe driving axles 10. A second reduction being -obtainable to the driving wheel ofthevehicle by the couple gears' and by' changing the ratio of the couple gears, various reductions are obtainable, therebyproviding a driving. deviceV for trucks, tractors', and the like which will` have anV increased pulling and'A hauling power over similar devices now on the market. Y

While I have show-n and described the preferred' embodiment ofy my invention, it will be understood that minor clrnges, in construction, combination, and arrangement of` parts may be.v made without` departing from the spiritl and scopel of the invention as claimed.

Having thusdescrlibed my inventiomwhat I claim isz 1.. Afdiif'erential including ahou'sing, load carrying axles carried by said housing, wheels journale'd on saidaxles,. drive? axles jou-rnaled in said housing-f and"V in a; plane above andy in-A verticalf alinenent with sai-d load carrying= axflesfmeans connecting the drive axlesto the wheels, anda-powershaft driving. said drive axles and locatedl in. a horizontal` planey withr the load carrying axles.- y Y y 2; A doubler reduction. drive for motor vehicles including alhousingflh'aving anv opening in the front wall thereof, load carrying axles carried by said housing, wheels jour-` naled on said axles, a coverv secured to the housing and closing said opening, an integral hanger carried by said cover, a differential supported by said hanger, drive axles connected to said differential, means connecting the drive axles to the wheels, and a worm power shaft transmitting power to the differential and located in a plane below the same and in a horizontal plane with the load carrying axles` and journaled' in the hanger7 said differential and worm power shaft being located at the rear of the cover plate and vcarried thereby through the 1,5

hangen In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of a witness. v

HARRY D. CLARKE.

Witness:

BENNETr I. JONES. 

